The name of LaVergne’s up-and-coming elementary school – LaVergne Lake Elementary School – has caused a stir from when it was first whispered about. The small group of well-meaning volunteers were probably very honored to have a hand in naming the school. From talking to one of those committee members, he said there were at least three members who were determined to have the name “LaVergne” somewhere in the school’s name. But LaVergne Primary was already taken and I guess they thought LaVergne Elementary was… well… just too confusing (much like Smyrna Primary and Smyrna Elementary).

Meanwhile, a petition has been started to rename the school. James Evans told me several months ago that to get the name changed, we needed 200 signatures and the school board would consider it. Originally the petition just had something like “would you like to change the name to Lake Forest Elementary” but we are changing the petition to give people a choice of:

LaVergne Lake Elementary School

Lake Forest Elementary School

Stones River Elementary School

You can go down to the local Movie Gallery next to Food Lion to sign the petition. Or you can vote online to our city’s website (but that vote may not count when the school board decides).

Now our biggest news is that Rutherford County’s own Daily News Journal is working on a story about how the name LaVergne Lake Elementary School hasn’t been embraced by residents. The reporter (Mealand Ragland-Hudgins) said the article should be published tomorrow, August 31st. You can click Mealand’s name above (for Microsoft Outlook) or cut and paste mragland@dnj.com (for web based email) to let her know your opinion on what you think the new school should be named.

Are you happy with LaVergne Lake Elementary? Would you rather it be Stones River Elementary or Lake Forest Elementary? Have a better idea? Like Oprah Winfrey Elementary? LaVergne-TN Blogspot Elementary? Better on a Date Than Shirley Tennessee Elementary? We’d love to hear from you? Comments are welcome!

And maybe if our residents speak up on this issue, we can eventually impress upon someone how we’d like a community swimming pool as well!

I don’t know this teenager, but he must be pretty stoic from everything I’ve read about him. LaVergne teen Brandon Brewer has a rare disease which has necessitated a small bowel transplant. His body began rejecting this organ, so he was admitted to a hospital in Seattle, Washington.

Brandon was released from the hospital and he and his mother (the family can only afford for her to be there with him) are staying in a Seattle Hotel. This link to the Daily News Journal story will tell you how you can help financially. In addition, you can email Brandon at brandek@tmail.com to send him get-well wishes.

Vandals struck a few neighborhoods last week in Smyrna. This week, vandals crossed into La Vergne and struck several homes and a school bus. Most of the damage was buste d windows. I hope the police capture these culprits.

We’re wrapping up our second week of school… how many of our kids have brought home colds or other crud to share with everyone? (I’m raising my hand.. bleh). This is also a good time to remind our kids not to share combs, hats, brushes, etc. And we all know why. I freak out when I see my kids try on hats at the store!

Looks like the weather is going to be in the low 90’s this weekend, with isolated showers on Sunday. It may be a good time to get out and do some things!

Football game tonight at LaVergne High School. They’re hosting Franklin’s Centennial High School. This is LaVergne’s second game this season … they were defeated last week by Smyrna HS 42:21. Yow.

Alligator Cove is now open at the Nashville Zoo. Admission prices from April through October are $11 for adults, $7 for children 3 to 12, and $9.50 for seniors (65+). All children under the age of 3 are admitted free.

Friday and Saturday are the last two days of the Wilson County Fair. Tonight is the beef show and the demolition derby. Saturday is the dog show, chili cookoff, and square dance jamboree!

In Murfreesboro, you can check out the Hot Rod Club Cruise-In at Rose’s parking lot on Memorial Blvd. tonight from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Also in Murfreesboro, the Dog Days of Summer Dog Contest is being held Saturday at Cannonsburgh Trailhead from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Call 893-2141 for more info.

Finally, you can head down to Shelbyville for some walking horse action. It’s the 68th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration at Celebration Grounds. Call (931) 684-5915 for ticket information.

If you don’t want to do any of those things, just come on over to my place and I’ll supply you with a weed whacker and hedge trimmers! Oh yes. I have things to do that will keep you busy. Peace.

I just visited with Cheryl White, sales manager with the Smyrna branch of Countrywide Home Loans. She told me her boss has agreed to allow FAST closings. If you are interested in buying a home, have one picked out, etc. and apply for a home loan with them by 12:00 noon tomorrow (Wednesday, August 23), they can close your home loan by Friday afternoon. Of course, you’ll have to have decent credit, etc. to qualify.

I haven’t found this in the news, but a freshman at LHS ended his life on Wednesday. The high school observed a moment of silence for Dwight Garrett Perrine. Parents, our kids are hurting right now and we need to be there for them and make sure we know where their heads are.

I want to share these lyrics that were written by one of his friends, Tommy. His song is about two people he lost (Dwight Garrett Perrine and a girl who died in a car accident when they were in 2nd or 3rd grade).

a memory of what we held dear

was it to old for comfortwas he to old to cope,these visions fade,to were the scene falls down,her beauty so porcelain,he was too good to to just break her down,one last click,one more life

what happend to the fallen,one day for a tear,the price we’d pay,just to have one more day,the warmth just whithers away,to cold crossed hearts,the tears we let fall,to their caskets made from our mistakes,

she was just making a day,4 wheels tore her smile away,how will he ever forget,the little girl in the road,he drank one more glass,to help him deal with the pain,for the little girl in pig tails,will never hold his shame

what happend to the fallen,one day for a tear,the price we’d pay,just to have one more day,the warmth just whithers away,to cold crossed hearts,the tears we let fall,to their caskets made from our mistakes,

we feel our memories make a vision,without you here this doesnt make a home,a picture never made so much pain,a thousand words are not enough,to seize what we lost,and to make a new of what we found,tell me why we cry for our dear,is it the sorrow of them to be lost,or is it the time we lost to hold it clear,

what happend to the fallen,one day for a tear,the price we’d pay,just to have one more day,the warmth just whithers away,to cold crossed hearts,the tears we let fall,to their caskets made from our mistakes.